Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Power steering not fixed on open recall in 2010 power steering rack failure caused an accident in motion 3rd party dealership diagnosed the problem with the power steering rack failure, but was unable to fix.
Im driving and all the gauges go wacko swinging back and forth, anti theft light comes on check engine light ABS light low fuel light traction light. It reads service traction power steering low fuel every light you can think of comes on and the car even jerks when changing into gear. At times the steering even has locked up on me, thank god at those times I was on a residential street and not freeway. At times it wont even start all the lights are just going basurk. Then theres days where its normal like it never even happened. Im afraid its going to lock up on me on the freeway and im going to have a serious accident!! The 2 recalls that my vechicle had have already been replaced but there is still issues!! This car needs to be completely recalled, I researched the issue im having and found out many many other people are having the same issue. Some people have even died!!! …
I own a 2007 Chevy Cobalt. In 2013 my car went crazy. Power steering stopped working and all the electric components were all over the place. RPM's were going up and down, full tank of gas said it was empty, gear shifter was clicking, and the car was jerking like it wanted to stall. I called Chevy and they told me there were 2 recalls, during the same time my garage smelled strong like gas. I had the problem fixed twice. Now in December 2016 the car is going haywire again.power steering goes out, all electric components start flipping out and the anti theft system light comes on along with every other light on the dash. My 17 year old daughter now drives the car and it is completely unsafe considering she is unable to steer and all the electric components go out. This must be treated as a recall! I've seen thousands of the same complaints. …
I own a 2007 Chevy Cobalt, which has recently been experiencing problems with the traction control system. At highway speeds, the traction control light turns on, and the engine stalls. This is an ongoing problem, and recently, I have not been able to get the car to start at all. I believe this to be a serious and potentially life threatening issue. I have done research on Cobalt traction control failures, and I know this to not be an isolated event. Some experts estimate that the majority of cobalts suffer from serious and potentially life threatening traction control failures. In all respects, this is a problem that requires a recall.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the check engine, tbs, battery, and traction control warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel shook violently. The contact had to maneuver to the shoulder to a complete stop. The vehicle shut down on its own and the contact was not able to remove the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle did not restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not diagnosed by the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
2-3 weeks ago I got in my car to go somewhere. From the time I pulled out of my driveway my car was in limp mode. At the same time my check engine light, air bag light, power steering light, service traction light and theft light all came on. I got my car back to the house and when I shut it off it would not start back. I hooked it up to the obd2 scanner and the codes that came back were p1682( faulty ignition switch) and code u0101(transmission control module).
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle shook intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and it was determined that the front bushings, electronic stability control, steering column, and the front driver and passenger side lower control arms needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Fuel gauges go crazy, the gas acceleration and speed gauges sometimes do not work and if the do they go up and down. All the lights I my dashboard light up as well. This usually happens when you turn on the car but it is not constant. It will sometimes happen two weeks in a row, but sometimes after two weeks. The gas tank is also leaking and the left speaker goes out sometimes. Once in a while my keys will get stuck in the ignition.
Coming to a stop at a stop sign in my neighborhood, about to turn right when my locks started locking/unlocking on their own repeatedly. My power steering goes out, check engine light comes on, and traction control light activates.. My dash flashes service traction /power steering. Speedometer stops working.
My 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt lt VIN# [redacted] with 31209 miles on it just had major complete loss of power steering. I checked this out on the internet and come to find out that this has been a big problem with the Chevrolet Cobalt since 2005. I have read that dealerships can't repair the problem even though they replace complete steering controls and ECM's. So here I am not knowing what to do and afraid to drive vehicle. I notice you have the question "number of persons injures:" below on this form. Well not physical but mental: so I am listing 2. Please tell me what to do?
Traction Control complaints in other Cobalt years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2% of the model year's 1,564 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 10 injuries to stability & traction control problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.